The Relationship

Identity Found in God
​The Creator and The Creation
     ~ The Creator
      ~ The Creation
      ~ The Relationship
      ~ The Purpose
      ~ Living Fully as His Creation

The Relationship
 
Colossians 1:16 – For by Him all things were created:  things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him AND FOR HIM.
 
One of our daughters was given a stuffed animal who she named Spot.  She loved Spot.  Spot went everywhere she went.  If we left the house without Spot, we knew we were all in trouble when she discovered Spot was left behind!  Those big crocodile tears would flow down her little cheeks as she tried her best to go to sleep without Spot by her side.  It was as if Spot’s purpose in life was to be in her constant presence.  She loved having Spot with her – she felt complete when she could hold him and cuddle with him.  When Spot was with her, there was peace!
 
One reason God created us was to be in relationship with Him.  From the beginning of mankind, when it was just Adam and Eve, the Lord was found living life with them.  Listen to and imagine this scene described in Genesis 3:8, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day…"  Pause the scene for just a moment.  Not only did God create all things and man, He walked with them and was present with them.  What an incredible truth to grasp.  We were created to be with Him and for Him to be with us.  Sit in the garden with Him for just a bit.
 
Unfortunately, the rest of Genesis 3:8 ends by saying, “…and they hid from the Lord God.”  Sin entered in, and there was a separation from man and God.  There could be no more walks in the garden together, at least the way it was, and for the time being anyway.
 
God continued to create avenues for His creation to spend time with Him, for Him to be in their presence.  As you read through Genesis and Exodus, and really the whole Bible, God continually speaks to His children.  He raises up leaders.  He works through the brokenness of some of the leaders.  He performs miracles like the parting of the sea, and offers victories in conflicts.  He gives directions and details to create a Tabernacle where He can reside with them.  He leads the building of the Temple.  He comes to earth - Immanuel - God with us.  He leaves His Holy Spirit with us.   Oh how He wants to spend time with His beloved creation.  Oh how He wants them and us to spend time with Him.
 
God has a plan.  He has from the very beginning.   He has known how it was all going to go down.  He knew how He would lead the Israelites in the sacrificial system, offering to Him blood sacrifices for their sins. He knew that at one given point, He Himself would come to earth through the Son, Jesus Christ.  He knew that Jesus would ultimately be the last sacrifice needed.  He knew that He would leave a part of Himself, the Holy Spirit, to reside in us.  He knew that one day, He will come again to bring His creation, all those who choose and believe in Him, to live with Him in paradise once again.  The presence and God’s relationship with us, His creation, is interwoven into the very essence of all of His Word.
 
What does it mean to be in relationship?  I know that one way is to update your “Relationship Status” on your Facebook or social media page.  Something that struck me as I pondered this was that we can spend quite a bit of time updating our status, posting ABOUT our relationships, picking the selfies to share that shows a time when you were together and enjoying yourselves, and posting tweets about your current emotion, joy or complaint about the other person.  But let’s step back a bit.  A relationship is a connectedness between two people.  Anybody can SAY they have a relationship with someone, or with God, but are they really connected?  To be fully joined together in relationship with someone, we need to spend time with each other.  Being in relationship is more than a status update; it’s more than just someone or something to talk about.  Relationship is spending time with one another, getting to know each other, sharing and listening together, trying to understand one another – this is what relationship is about. 
 
Do you see it?  Do you recognize it?  Can you follow all the ways that our Creator has put into place for the purpose of living with and being in relationship with His beloved masterpieces?  God created man to be in relationship with Him.  Do you believe that He has made a way, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and through the experiences of His presence with you in the Holy Spirit, to spend precious time with you?  Just like Spot was to our daughter, you are precious to Him – He really doesn’t want to be without you.  Is God that important to you?  Do you feel lost or incomplete if you ignore His presence?  He wants to be with you always.  He loves you when you carry out your day by bringing Him along with you.  Spend time continually growing your relationship with Him.  Get to know and understand Him, share and listen.
 
Open yourself up to the promise of His presence.  What part of your relationship with God do you need to work on?  Give Him a chance to let you know how much He desires to be in relationship with you.